Greetings from the future. I just got back from watching the 2024 Bowerman Mile at Hayward Field. Conditions were just about ideal for racing (and for drinking/spectating!) -- 60 degrees and cloudy. And the atmosphere was absolutely electric. I'm talking Olympic-level excitement (and trust me, I know, as I have been to almost 30 Summer Olympics. Does anyone remember Edwin Flack's scintillating 1500m win at the 1896 Athens games in a Valby Parker-esque 4:33.2? I do!).
Anyway, on to the race. 14 men toe the line, and just about every one of them looks like he believes he is going to be the one to break the tape (except for Garcia Romo and Myers -- each looks to be on the verge of tears). Neil Gourley is a scratch -- still working his way back from injury apparently.
The pace is hot from the start (sorry Centro, 2016 truly was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity). The field is pretty much single file after 200 meters, with Ingebrigtsen, Girma(!), Kipsang, and Nuguse leading, closely followed by Hoare, Kerr, Hocker, and Cheruiyot. Kessler is a bit all over the map -- running in lane 2, surging up to the front, dropping back to the rear. He finally settles in at the back third of the pack. Beamish and Centro both hover around DFL. 400M split for the leaders: 56.31.
Lots of reshuffling on Lap 2, with two equal packs forming -- a lead pack of 7 (Ingy, Girma, Nuguse, Hoare, Kerr, Wightman, and Hocker), and then a slight gap back to a trail pack of 7 (Cheruiyot, Kipsang, Kessler, Garcia, Myers, Centro, Beamish). The pace remains quick. 800m split: 1:52.76.
Not much movement on Lap 3, but boy are they still motoring! Ingy leading, with Kerr and Nuguse shadowing. The rest of the field all remain in contact, however, so its still anyone's race (though Kipsang seems to be fading). 1200m split: 2:47.93!
Bell lap. Girma makes a big move for the lead, and surges ahead with 300m to go. Ingy, Kerr, Nuguse, and Wightman all respond, and quickly swallow up Girma on the back stretch. With 200 to go, Ingy is back in the lead, with Kerr on his shoulder, and Nuguse tucked in at the rail. But here come Hocker and Hoare! It looks like 6 guys with a chance to win with 150 to go (Ingy, Kerr, Nuguse, Wightman, Hoare, Hocker). Ah, but Hoare and Wightman falter a bit at the top of the stretch!
Here we go! Kerr and Nuguse go outside and pull even with Ingy. Hocker sneaks in on the rail and also pulls even. 4 men battling down the stretch with 50 meters to go! Are you not entertained?!
And ...
HOCKER snatches the victory, edging Kerr at the tape! Nuguse is right there for 3rd. Ingy finishes in 4th, off the podium. Huge kicks from Kessler and Beamish, and they move up several places in the closing meters, but it is not enough. Girma faded badly in the last 200 meters. Young Myers acquitted himself quite well given this world-class field. And Centro's performance reminds us all that Father Time remains undefeated. What a race!
The official results:
1 - 3:45.77 Cole Hocker (USA)
2 - 3:45.86 Josh Kerr (GBR)
3 - 3:45.97 Yared Nuguse (USA)
4 - 3:46.03 Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR)
5 - 3:46.53 Jake Wightman (GBR)
6 - 3:47.01 Hobbs Kessler (USA)
7 - 3:47.93 Geordie Beamish (NZL)
8 - 3:48.04 Oliver Hoare (AUS)
9 - 3:48.57 Reynold Kipkorir Cheruiyot (KEN)
10 - 3:49.14 Lamecha Girma (ETH)
11 - 3:49.68 Cameron Myers (AUS)
12 - 3:50.37 Abel Kipsang (KEN)
13 - 3:51.16 Mario García (ESP)
14 - 3:52.93 Matthew Centrowitz (USA)